The Allahabad High Court has ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the alleged dowry-related death of a woman who died in a house explosion in Seattle, USA, just 15 months after her marriage. 

The petitioner, the deceased’s mother, sought the transfer of the investigation from the Uttar Pradesh Police to the CBI under Section 188 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which pertains to crimes committed outside India by Indian nationals.

An FIR was lodged on September 28, 2023, at a police station in Meerut, accusing the woman's in-laws of dowry harassment and her subsequent death. While the Uttar Pradesh Police referred the case to the CBI, procedural delays stalled the investigation. During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel argued that despite recommendations from various authorities, including the Ministry of External Affairs, the CBI had not yet initiated the investigation.

The CBI explained that under the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, it needed both state government consent and approval from the Central Government to proceed. However, the division bench of Justices Vivek Kumar Birla and Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal clarified that for offences committed abroad by Indian citizens, only Central Government sanction is required, and state consent is unnecessary.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the delays, the court criticized the authorities for neglecting their duties and causing undue distress to the petitioner. It directed the CBI and the Ministry of Home Affairs to complete the necessary formalities and commence the investigation within 15 days.

Case Title: xxxx vs. State of U.P. and Another